Uniquely among the broadcast network evening newscasts, ABC's World News on Thursday ran a report which informed viewers that Democrats in Congress have joined Republicans in accusing the Obama administration of leaking classified information, jeopardizing the country's ability to recruit spies in other countries to help the U.S. in the future.
Host Diane Sawyer introduced the report by suggesting that administration officials have leaked sensitive information to benefit President Obama politically, noting that Democrats have weighed in against the White House as well:
We turn now from Syria to the heart of the nation's capital and a firestorm today as Republicans claim the White House has been leaking national security secrets to the press to make President Obama look good. But Democrats joined Republicans in saying, "Enough, these leaks must stop."
After noting several examples of leaked information, correspondent Jonathan Karl recounted:
Some of the leaks are already under investigation by the FBI. And today, U.S. officials told ABC News the Director of National Intelligence is now doing more lie detector tests of people with access to classified information. Republicans say the leaking is politically motivated and possibly criminal.
After an exchange between Karl and Senator Lindsey Graham in which the South Carolina Republican asserted that the leaks are "coming right from the White House," and that there should be "prosecutions," then came a clip of Arizona Senator John McCain:
Regardless of how politically useful these leaks may have been to the President, they have to stop. These leaks have to stop.
Karl then turned to congressional Democrats joining Republicans against the White House:
JONATHAN KARL: And today, top Democrats on the congressional intelligence committees joined Republicans in denouncing the leaks.
SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-CA): This has to stop. When people say, they don't want to work with the United States because they can't trust us to keep a secret, that's serious.
REP. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER (D-MD): It puts us at risk. It puts lives at risk.
A complete transcript of the report from Thursday's World News on ABC can be found here.
